· the band ·
"Hater deliver tongue-in-cheek meanness just for the fun of it." -High TimesHater was originally intended to be a regrouping of Episode, the last band/project Ben Shepherd was involved in before he was recruited into Soundgarden in 1990. At the time, Shepherd was singing and playing guitar, Andy Miller (who now plays in Bell, also Seattle based) was on drums and John Waterman played bass. There were about a dozen songs in the works before Shepherd exited, amicably. During a lull in one of Soundgarden's tours, Shepherd suggested to the other members of Episode that they should record some of those original songs, which were almost exclusively his creation. However, John McBain came back from the tour alongside Shepherd, to live with him for awhile. McBain maneuvered to have Miller replaced by Matt Cameron. Waterman remained in his position, eventually leaving Hater after refusing to play a gig in Pullman, Washington, and being replaced by Alan Davis.
So Hater's current lineup features Matt Cameron (drums/vocals) and Ben Shepherd (guitars/vocals), both previously of Soundgarden, along with Alan Davis (bass) and John McBain (guitars). McBain is the ex-guitarist for Monster Magnet. Hater provides a chance for Cameron to sing (which he does on "Sad McBain") and Shepherd to play guitar, a departure from their regular duties in Soundgarden. The band still plays together; their most recent show was at the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle this past September.
Ben Shepherd was the full-time bassist for Soundgarden, though he was previously a guitarist. Hater is where Shepherd returns to his first instrument. He wrote the music for most of the band's 1993 debut album, foreshadowing his increased songwriting duties in Soundgarden (he wrote the majority of the music for Down On The Upside). The album was written mostly at Shepherd's house, and took the better part of five days to complete. He explains: "It wasn't an industry thing, but actually a backlash from so much touring, playing the same songs over and over." Shepherd was a member of March Of Crimes and Nirvana in the past. He currently plays in the Hater side project Wellwater Conspiracy, and in the past appeared with John McBain and a couple of other players under the moniker Macaw, popping up some Sunday nights at the OK Hotel, playing psychedelic, Doors-influenced stuff and Hendrix covers; Shepherd plays a theremin-like instrument with both feet while he plays guitar.
Matt Cameron was the full-time drummer for Soundgarden, but is proficient in guitar and bass as well. He can also sing -- he can be spotted singing backup vocals from behind his kit at Soundgarden shows -- and gets a chance to do that on "Sad McBain." His other singing experience includes "Puberty Love" on the Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes soundtrack. Cameron was a member of Skin Yard until 1986, and also plays in Wellwater Conspiracy. His other projects have included Temple Of The Dog, M.A.C.C., Tone Dogs, and Motel 6.
John Paul McBain was originally the guitarist for Monster Magnet, before teaming up with Shepherd and Cameron to form Hater in 1993. A couple of the songs he wrote for Hater were not used, instead becoming the first Wellwater Conspiracy 7". McBain was also the guitarist on the first Devilhead record, Your Ice Cream's Dirty, though he has since been replaced, and teamed up with Shepherd in Macaw (see above).
Alan Davis is, well, he's the bassist for Hater, and that's all I know. He joined the band before "Convicted" was recorded for the Hempilation compilation.
Old Personnel
Original vocalist Brian Wood is the full-time singer for Devilhead, signed to Loosegroove Records; his brother Kevin plays guitar for that band as well, which has released two albums, Your Ice Cream's Dirty and Pest Control. As you may know, Wood's younger brother was Andrew Wood, the lead singer for Mother Love Bone who overdosed on heroin and was subsequently the subject of the Temple Of The Dog tribute.
Original bassist John Waterman was the original bassist for Devilhead, appearing with Hater bandmates McBain and Wood on Your Ice Cream's Dirty. He was also in Episode with Shepherd and Andy Miller prior to joining Hater.